Deputy Minister of Health: Precision Pediatrics Key to Enhancing Care and Diagnosing Rare Diseases

Abdul-Karim Al-Abdullah: Undersecretary of the Ministry of Health, Sheikh Dr. Salman Khalifa Al-Sabah, affirmed that the rapid advancement in the field of precision pediatrics and its applications represents a significant transformation in the pediatric care system, shifting from reading and understanding the genetic code to delivering more precise and tailored healthcare for each child. He noted that progress in this area enhances the health system’s capacity to achieve accurate diagnoses, particularly in rare and complex cases, as well as to select the most appropriate care and gain a deeper understanding of the needs of children and their families.

This statement was made during the opening of the First Conference on “Precision Pediatrics: From Genomes to Care,” organized by the Kuwait Pediatric Association, the Kuwait Academy for Rare Diseases, and the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, with the participation of a select group of experts and specialists. The conference aims to exchange expertise and discuss the latest applications of precision medicine in diagnosing and treating genetic and rare diseases.

Sheikh Dr. Salman Khalifa Al-Sabah emphasized that technology remains a means to serve humanity, improve care, safeguard children’s health, and enhance their quality of life. He highlighted Kuwait’s ongoing efforts to combat genetic diseases through the Kuwait Center for Genetic Diseases, established in 1979, which provides genetic counseling, specialized testing, and a newborn screening program in both public and private hospitals.

He pointed out the importance of responsible dialogue to ensure the optimal use of genetic information, thereby protecting individual privacy and respecting the rights of children and their families. He reaffirmed the Ministry’s continued commitment to developing human resources and laboratories to strengthen integration among various medical specialties.

For his part, Dr. Abdullah Shamsah, President of the Pediatric Association, stated in a similar address that the Association is committed to supporting continuing medical education pathways and developing medical practices to ensure the delivery of advanced healthcare to children and their families, both within Kuwait and abroad. He clarified that the conference aims to exchange medical information and expertise, enhance frameworks for medical cooperation, and keep pace with the latest scientific developments in the field of precision pediatric care.

For her part, Dr. Hind Al-Sharhan, Conference Chair, emphasized in a similar statement that the true value of genetic and genomic knowledge lies in translating it into early diagnosis, appropriate treatment, and comprehensive healthcare that addresses the needs of each child and their family. She noted that the rapid advancement in genetic and targeted therapies opens broad horizons for treating many genetic and rare diseases that previously posed significant medical challenges. She added that the importance of genetic testing and counseling extends to supporting families in understanding the likelihood of transmitting genetic diseases and helping them make informed and enlightened decisions regarding premarital screening and family planning, as well as enhancing opportunities for early detection and proactive prevention.